In this E-Letter…
Becker Well Capping Rescheduled for February 26
Mud Dumping Permit Expires February 20
Hillary Receives Medal from SB City Fire Department
Citizens Go to the Beaches to Help
Happy Valentine's Day!
BECKER WELL CAPPING RESCHEDULED
FOR FEBRUARY 26
Heal the Ocean has received notice from InterAct, the contractor for the State Lands Commission capping of Becker Well on Summerland Beach – that the project is back on the calendar for Monday, February 26, 2018! We are thrilled to see the notices posted around Summerland, and to see this work move back up to the starting gate. We are crossing our fingers that the weather and ocean are calm on this day and for the few days after, so that the contractors can get the work done. With Neptune’s help, Becker Well will be capped, and that project will give something good back to the ocean - perhaps a Thank-You present for helping the community in our extremity of dealing with the horrible fallout from the Montecito Mudslide.
MONTECITO MUD TAKE 3
Public Works is grappling with the boulders that came down with the Mudslide. Photo by Mike Eliason.
Heal the Ocean is also pleased that the emergency permits that have allowed for the dumping of Montecito mud on Goleta Beach, as well as the deposition of debris basin material on Carpinteria Beach, are being allowed to expire February 20, 2018. We are told by Santa Barbara County Public Works that the Carpinteria operation has ceased already. Our hope is that the halting of these operations will allow the ocean to begin healing – so that the State Lands Contractors can cap Becker Well. We hope and pray for quiet weather to help the homeowners still grappling with the difficulties of getting mud hauled off their private properties. We will be looking forward to a short range plan to find another spot for mud and sediment, and send our thanks to Public Works that it is looking for a spot to re-purpose all the hard materials that will come from the demolition of houses. The real work will be to come up with a long-range plan to handle such geological fall-out in the future if ever (heaven forbid) it happens again in Santa Barbara County. Plus, there is still the dilemma of what to do with the gigantic boulders that litter the landscape of Montecito.
HILLARY RECEIVES MEDAL FROM
SANTA BARBARA CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
One late afternoon, Hillary was working in the HTO office alone, when there came a knock on the door. She thought it was the night watchman, but in walked Santa Barbara City Fire Chief Pat McElroy, who placed what felt like a big coin in Hillary's hand. When she opened her fist she saw a Santa Barbara City Fire Dept. Medal, and as she stood there, stunned, Chief McElroy said, "We don't give many of these out.” He explained that HTO's role in acting as conduit for information to the Santa Barbara Community about the Montecito Mudslide disaster, and softening the blow to the public about the controversial disposal of mud on beaches was of enormous help not only to the Fire Department, but First Responders and all disaster workers.
CITIZENS GO TO THE BEACHES TO HELP
Top row: Michael Hurley on Summerland Beach; Lily Issaris & Chloe Zamp at Goleta Beach
Middle row: Rachael Randall and Forest, at East Beach; Claire Yusingco & friends at Goleta Beach;
Bottom row: Maire Radis and family/friends tackle Loon Point
Although concerned citizens couldn't get near the hazardous piles of debris that had washed down to the beaches during the catastrophic storm and Mudslide event on January 9, 2018, many wanted to help right away in some way - and so they went to beaches to pick up plastic items that had washed down with everything else. Many intrepid volunteers are still at it, and HTO has handed out numerous re-usable gloves and trash bags to people who come by our office to get them. Thank you, volunteers! HTO has plenty of sturdy gloves and bags for anybody who wants to help.
A VERY HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO ALL!
Heal the Ocean sends our love and thanks to all of you!